Phoenix MBDA Center: Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) Summit

Event Date and Time:

11/16/2012 - 10:00am - 1:30pm

The Phoenix MBDA Business Center[1] and the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce will host the inaugural 2012 Arizona Minority Business Enterprise Summit (formerly MED Week) on November 16, 2012, 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., at the Renaissance Downtown Phoenix Hotel.

The event spotlights the growing contributions of minority-owned businesses in Arizona. Major components include the release of a 2012 MBE Study detailing the state of minority-owned businesses in Arizona; inaugural inductions into the Arizona Million Dollar Roundtable recognizing companies that do at least $1 million of business with minority-owned suppliers; and the presentation of the annual Phoenix Minority Business Enterprise Awards.

WMBE 2012 Study

To document and better understand the role and impact of women- and minority-owned business enterprises, the Phoenix MBDA Business Center and the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce with support from Arizona Public Service commissioned an in-depth study of the characteristics of women and minority-owned businesses in Arizona. (Note: The last major study of Arizona’s minority-owned businesses was conducted in 2007.) Findings about the state of minority-owned companies in Arizona will be released November 9 at the Arizona 2012 Minority Business Enterprise Summit. Additional data gathered in the study about women-owned and Hispanic-owned businesses will be released at later dates.

Million Dollar Roundtable

The Arizona Million Dollar Roundtable, co-chaired by Donald E. Brandt, chairman & CEO of Arizona Public Service, and Don McKneely, President & CEO, TexCorp., was created in 2011 to recognize and celebrate companies that spend at least $1 million contracting with minority and woman-owned suppliers. Like the international Billion Dollar Roundtable (founded by Mr. McKneely) the Arizona Million Dollar Roundtable will promote and shares best practices in supply chain diversity through the production of white papers. In discussions, the members review common issues, opportunities and strategies. The roundtables encourage corporate entities to continue growing their supplier diversity programs by increasing commitment and spending levels each year.

Phoenix MBDA Awards

The Phoenix MBDA Center will present its annual awards at luncheon ceremony Nov. 16, 2012. Awards will be presented in four categories. Winners are eligible to be nominated to receive regional MBDA awards. The MBDA Awards Program is designed to celebrate and recognize the outstanding achievements of minority entrepreneurs as well as individuals and organizations that have demonstrated leadership and commitment in advancing minority business enterprise.